Chapter Thirty-Three: Where Are You Touching?

Seeing Jiang Qin so enthusiastic, Zhao Ang did not refuse again.

Forget it; in any case, he would not be the one losing out. Besides, he was curious to see whether different types of internal energy would stimulate his meridians in different ways.

"Let’s go, then."

Zhao Ang walked toward his room, and Jiang Qin quickly followed. However, as they reached the door, she hesitated. Why did she suddenly feel that something was not quite right?

"If you want to back out now, there is still time," Zhao Ang teased with a smirk as he looked at her.

"I would never back out!" Jiang Qin could not stand the look on his face; since he doubted her, she was determined to prove him wrong.

"You… why are you taking off your clothes?" Jiang Qin quickly covered her eyes as Zhao Ang began to undress.

"How else am I supposed to take a medicinal bath?" Zhao Ang felt it was quite obvious. It seemed Jiang Qin did not know the routine Liu Yu used to clear his meridians.

"Perhaps we should just forget it. I can wait for Liu Yu to return and continue the baths then." He offered this suggestion sincerely, but Jiang Qin was having none of it.

"No need for Liu Yu. I can do it."

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Qin steeled herself and opened her eyes. Since she insisted, Zhao Ang did not object and sat down in the wooden tub.

"In that case, use your internal energy to strike and open this meridian of mine." Zhao Ang remained indifferent, not giving the matter a second thought.

Jiang Qin, however, was somewhat bashful as she pressed her palms against him. The heat transferred through the contact of their skin, and her face turned bright red. Zhao Ang, completely oblivious, continued to give instructions.

It had to be said that while Jiang Qin lacked the raw power of Liu Yu, her internal energy was significantly stronger. The trade-off meant she was still quite effective, though the results were minimal since his meridians were already mostly cleared.

However...

"Jiang Qin, where do you think your hand is going?"

Zhao Ang’s voice snapped Jiang Qin back to reality, and she quickly pulled her hand away.

"I... I was just curious, I didn't mean anything by it." She twisted her hands, feeling a surge of shame. How could she be this kind of woman?

Seeing her reaction, Zhao Ang felt a different kind of interest stir within him. After all, Jiang Qin was incredibly beautiful, and her current shy demeanor only made her more endearing.

He was a man, after all, not a eunuch!

"Are you truly curious? Then let’s find out!"

"Ah?" Jiang Qin was bewildered, but before she could finish speaking, Zhao Ang stood up.

Her face flushed deep red; she felt as if she were burning up.

"I said, why don't you take a closer look?" Leaning in, Zhao Ang’s breath brushed against her neck. He pulled her waist toward him, his gaze dark and profound.

Jiang Qin felt a strange sensation, her body softening. Yet, inexplicably, she did not resist his proximity; in fact, she found herself secretly longing for it. Her hands felt his taut, muscular frame, and a thought suddenly crossed her mind: "Were the rumors wrong? Perhaps it was the women who were throwing themselves at Zhao Ang, not the other way around."

"It seems I am not performing well enough if you have the spare mind to let your thoughts wander," Zhao Ang chuckled, noticing her distraction.

"Ugh!"

With a startled cry, Jiang Qin was swept up and carried to the bed.

"The night is long; why don't we try a different method of cultivation?" Zhao Ang said, leaving no room for refusal as he pulled her into the depths of desire.

"It hurts..." Jiang Qin whispered, her hands gripping his back involuntarily.

The night passed, and the morning sun filtered through the window into the room. Jiang Qin gently traced the contours of Zhao Ang’s face, her heart feeling entirely different than before.

"You’re awake?" Seeing Zhao Ang open his eyes, her voice carried a hint of surprise.

"You were tickling me so much, it would be a wonder if I hadn't woken up." Zhao Ang stretched lazily, then pleasantly discovered that his internal energy had grown slightly. Could it be that dual cultivation also stimulated his power?

His remark caused Jiang Qin’s imagination to run wild. Her thoughts drifted back to the events of the previous night, her eyes filled with shyness.

"You are so wicked!"

"Hm?" Zhao Ang was stunned. "Who are you? Are you still the same Jiang Qin?" They had only spent one night together; her change was drastic.

"Of course it's me. Who else did you expect? Liu Yu?"

"How could she ever compare to me? She loses on looks alone! Why are you still so fixated on her?"

This haughty attitude was definitely the Jiang Qin he knew.

"I'm not fixated on her at all. There is only you."

Sweet talk came naturally to Zhao Ang. He threw off the quilt and stood up to look at her. "I'm getting up. What about you? Are you feeling refreshed?"

Zhao Ang had not forgotten how she had cried out and begged for mercy during the second half of the night. But since they were both martial artists, surely her recovery wouldn't be too slow?

Hearing this, Jiang Qin blushed again, but she stood up gracefully. "Of course I am! Don't underestimate me!"

As she spoke, she suddenly felt a chill and quickly wrapped herself in the quilt. "You... you aren't allowed to look!"

Zhao Ang’s gaze grew intense, and he pinned her back down. "It's still early; we can sleep a while longer."

It was well past noon by the time the two finally emerged.

Fu Gui had already arranged for servants to give Jiang Qin a massage. "Young Master, you are as vigorous as ever!" Seeing Jiang Qin wincing from the massage, Fu Gui gave Zhao Ang a silent thumbs-up.

"Enough, stop with your glib tongue!" Zhao Ang gave him a playful rap on the head, which Fu Gui had long grown accustomed to.

Rubbing his head, Fu Gui got to the point. "Old Master Wang said he is waiting for you in the study. He says he has something important to discuss."

"Very well."

Setting aside his washcloth, Zhao Ang strode toward the study, though his gait still betrayed the effects of the previous night.

"Looking at you, it seems you’ve truly tamed the Jiang girl." The old prince watched him with a smile.

"Enough, old man. You’ve been through it yourself, don't tease me."

"It’s good that you’ve claimed her. The Jiang girl is a fine woman; you must treat her well." The old prince felt immense relief. The estate lacked an heir, and he was pinning his hopes on Zhao Ang producing a great-grandson. As for the Princess... well, the child could simply be raised under her name.

"Old man, you sent Jiang Qin to me—don't tell me this was your plan all along?" Zhao Ang suddenly realized why the old prince had been so eager to find him a beauty; it was all a ploy.

"Nonsense, *cough, cough*..." The old prince looked away, feeling guilty, and tapped his fingers on the table. "Enough of that, let's discuss business."

He picked up a book from the side and placed it on the table.